Improved gopher-trap



tnitrt gitana @wat (temible Letters Patent No. 96,159, dated October 26, 1869.

yIll/JIPROV'ED G-OPHER-TRAP.

The Schedule referred vto in' these Lettere Patent and making part of the same.

To all who-m it may concerny Be it known that 1,1). N. SMITH, of San Bernardino, in the county ot' San Bernardino, and State of California, have invented a new and improved Gopher- Trap; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,` and exact description thereof', which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a side view, partly in section, ot' my improved gopher-trap.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section ot' the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to a new gopher-trap, which is of very simple construction, and which will be sure to catch the animals, it they pass through it.

The trap consists of a tubular case or body, A, which is about two feet long, and which is to be placed at the mouth of a gopher-hole, so that the gopher, when leaving his hole, will liave to pass through this tube. The tube is open at both ends.

B is a post, fastened to one side of the tube. To

its upper end is pivoted a lever, C, which has one arm, by a rod or chain, a., connected with a slide, D, said slide being a longitudinal bar, connected, at its ends, with vertical plates E E.

These plates slide in guides, which are formed by posts b l1, and by slots through the tube A.

By means ot' springs c c, on rods (l d, the plate I) is forced down; so that the'plates E will form partitions in the tube. n

F is a horizontal pin, fitted through an aperture in the side of the tube A, 'and pivoted, by means ofvertically-projecting arms e e, to ears `f, which project from the outer side of the tube A. lts outer end is hook-shaped.

g is a fixed hook, projecting from the sides of the tube A:

From the outer end of the lever' C is suspended, by

Aa string, Il, a pin, fi, which, when it has its ends fitted j into the hooks F and g, holds the inner end of the lever up, and thereby also the slides D E raised.

As the gopher passes through the tube Afhe will strike against the pin F, and, in doing so, will detach ythe pin t' from the hooks, thereby releasing the slides, 

